Francis von Hildebrand is the Chief Executive Director of Gaia Amazonas (Fundación Gaia Amazonas), a Colombian NGO whose mission is to protect the Amazon, biocultural diversity, and socio-environmental resilience while actively partnering and collaborating with indigenous peoples’ processes and organizations. Francis has led Gaia Amazonas as its Director and CEO since 2012 and previously worked for a decade in the organization as a researcher advancing development and conservation projects in Amazonia with indigenous communities in Colombia and in transfrontier projects. Francis is a professional in Development Studies and is an expert in local development strategies, local governance, and inter-cultural environmental management with a strong emphasis on community-based research and participation.